The impact of regional integration on economic growth: empirical evidence from COMESA, EAC and SADC trade blocs

This study examines the impact of economic integration on growth by constructing an economic integration index based on average Most Favoured Nations (MFN) tariffs and the level of regional cooperation for COMESA, EAC and SADC. Applying system GMM estimation technique, the study confirms a positive relationship between economic integration and economic growth. Economic integration and trade, separately and jointly, have a positive and significant impact on growth. The study recommends among other policies, pursuance of nondiscriminatory trade liberalization concomitantly with preferential liberalization in both goods and services, for economic integration to have a significant and sustained positive impact on growth.